Frederica Wilson: ‘John Kelly’s Trying to Keep His Job, He Will Say Anything’

Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson (Fla.) responded to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly's strong criticism of her for publicly discussing President Donald Trump's phone call with a Gold Star wife, saying "he will say anything" and is trying to keep his job.

Wilson told reporters this week that Trump told Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, that she was deeply upset when Trump called her and said her husband knew what he signed up for. Trump responded that characterization of the call was a fabrication, and Wilson called Trump a "liar" in a series of subsequent media appearances.

He said he was "stunned" and "heartbroken" by her decision to reveal that private phone call to the public, saying he thought that was "sacred." He also defended Trump's words to Johnson and others, saying Trump did the best he could in speaking with the families of the four soldiers killed in a recent ambush in Niger.

According to Politico writer Marc Caputo, Wilson had a quick response to Kelly's remarks at the White House press briefing.

"John Kelly's trying to keep his job. He will say anything," Wilson said. "There were other people who heard what I heard."

"President Trump did disrespect my son and my daughter and also me and my husband," Jones-Johnson said.

"John Kelly's trying to keep his job. He will say anything," says @RepWilson in response to Trump's staff chief who ripped her for disclosing details of controversial call with soldier's widow. "There were other people who heard what I heard." https://t.co/DDer2xmO9S